photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andreia Naomi
Inaugural event in Brazil is a big success
Argentina won the inaugural IIHF Women’s 3x3 Series in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A 7-3 victory over Puerto Rico in Wednesday night’s gold medal game completed an undefeated run for the most prolific offence in the competition. Playmaker Alma Ameigeiras was a key figure and capped off a fine individual tournament with a great goal to open a two-goal lead early in the final.
Puerto Rico, which held Argentina to a 3-3 tie in the opening game of the series, was notable for its impressive defence. With a roster of just seven players – Argentina brought 13 – the team played a compact game. Goalie Liv Bernard was frequently the star player.
In the gold medal game, Argentina settled down first and jumped into a 2-0 lead. Puerto Rico pulled one back in the first period when Allegra Jenkins converted a penalty shot – instead of the traditional power play, in 3x3 any foul results in a penalty shot. But two unanswered Argentinian goals in the second period opened a 4-1 lead that felt unassailable.
In adversity, Puerto Rice battled hard and almost produced an unlikely recovery. Alyssa Jimenez got one back early in the third, and a flicker of hope became a flame when Eva Macci-Garcia made it a one-goal game with 3:13 to play.
However, Argentina’s greater depth made the difference. As the Puerto Rican team became tired, Argentina captain Iara Haiek stepped up with two crucial goals. Iara is part of a hockey dynasty: her father Jorge and brother Owen were on the coaching staff in Sao Paulo. Uma Apo-Tsang completed the scoring in the final seconds to finish the job.
Earlier on Wednesday, host nation Brazil took on Colombia for bronze. Despite vocal home support, it ended in a comfortable 6-1 win for a youthful Colombian roster that included two 14-year-olds, Sofia Lozano and Torres Magaby.
Rapid progress
Blanka Elekes Szentagotai, the IIHF Women’s Program Manager, attended the Sao Paulo series. She was excited by what she saw during her week in Brazil.
“It’s amazing to see the development, even over six or seven days,” Szentagotai told tournament broadcaster Big Hockey Brazil . “Every single team has developed. The players got better and became more of a team. That’s always the goal of such an event and I think we achieved that tremendously here.
“Also, seeing the fans here, the atmosphere when Brazil walked in for the bronze medal game...it doesn’t get much better than that. Brazil clearly has a heart for hockey.”
Contrasting styles
Although 3x3 is a new hockey format, there are already signs that teams are adopting different tactical approaches. The finalists in Sao Paulo offered contrasting gameplay on their way to the gold medal game. After splitting a 3-3 verdict in the tournament opener – no overtime or shootouts in the group stage under this format – both Argentina and Puerto Rico were undefeated against Colombian or Brazilian opposition.
However, while Argentina’s free-scoring offence overpowered the opposition – culminating in a 10-2 semi-final win over Brazil – Puerto Rico relied on the tournament’s most miserly defence. Goaltender Liv Bernard was in eye-catching form throughout and starred in a 4-1 success against Colombia in the semis.
Earlier, Argentina topped a five-team group on goal differential after tying Puerto Rico with nine points.
Colombia came third in the group thanks to wins over the two Brazilian teams (6-1 and 10-2). The host could not get a win against any other nation, but Brazil I advanced thanks to a 7-2 victory over Brazil II. Although the home team found it tough at times, in a country with a greater tradition of inline hockey this tournament was a valuable opportunity to face stronger opposition and improve the Brazilian game by learning from teams at the next level.
And Szentagotai was pleased with the host nation’s progress.
“We always had a plan for these developing countries to host events,” she said. “We’re so happy to be here because they’ve done a tremendous job of staging the tournament, and I think it also gives them the possibility to develop even further and strengthen their program.
“I think it’s an absolute win-win for everyone.”
Results
Gold medal game: Argentina 7-3 Puerto Rico
Bronze medal game: Colombia 6-1 Brazil I
Semi-finals:
Argentina 10-2 Brazil I
Puerto Rica 4-1 Colombia
Group stage
Gameday one:
Argentina 3-3 Puerto Rico
Colombia 6-1 Brazil I
Puerto Rico 13-1 Brazil II
Gameday two:
Puerto Rico 5-3 Colombia
Argentina 6-3 Brazil I
Brazil II 2-10 Colombia
Brazil I 1-3 Puerto Rico
Gameday three:
Argentina 18-2 Brazil II
Brazil I 7-2 Brazil II
Colombia 3-8 Argentina
Group Standings:
Argentina won the inaugural IIHF Women’s 3x3 Series in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A 7-3 victory over Puerto Rico in Wednesday night’s gold medal game completed an undefeated run for the most prolific offence in the competition. Playmaker Alma Ameigeiras was a key figure and capped off a fine individual tournament with a great goal to open a two-goal lead early in the final.
Puerto Rico, which held Argentina to a 3-3 tie in the opening game of the series, was notable for its impressive defence. With a roster of just seven players – Argentina brought 13 – the team played a compact game. Goalie Liv Bernard was frequently the star player.
In the gold medal game, Argentina settled down first and jumped into a 2-0 lead. Puerto Rico pulled one back in the first period when Allegra Jenkins converted a penalty shot – instead of the traditional power play, in 3x3 any foul results in a penalty shot. But two unanswered Argentinian goals in the second period opened a 4-1 lead that felt unassailable.
In adversity, Puerto Rice battled hard and almost produced an unlikely recovery. Alyssa Jimenez got one back early in the third, and a flicker of hope became a flame when Eva Macci-Garcia made it a one-goal game with 3:13 to play.
However, Argentina’s greater depth made the difference. As the Puerto Rican team became tired, Argentina captain Iara Haiek stepped up with two crucial goals. Iara is part of a hockey dynasty: her father Jorge and brother Owen were on the coaching staff in Sao Paulo. Uma Apo-Tsang completed the scoring in the final seconds to finish the job.
Earlier on Wednesday, host nation Brazil took on Colombia for bronze. Despite vocal home support, it ended in a comfortable 6-1 win for a youthful Colombian roster that included two 14-year-olds, Sofia Lozano and Torres Magaby.
Rapid progress
Blanka Elekes Szentagotai, the IIHF Women’s Program Manager, attended the Sao Paulo series. She was excited by what she saw during her week in Brazil.
“It’s amazing to see the development, even over six or seven days,” Szentagotai told tournament broadcaster Big Hockey Brazil . “Every single team has developed. The players got better and became more of a team. That’s always the goal of such an event and I think we achieved that tremendously here.
“Also, seeing the fans here, the atmosphere when Brazil walked in for the bronze medal game...it doesn’t get much better than that. Brazil clearly has a heart for hockey.”
Contrasting styles
Although 3x3 is a new hockey format, there are already signs that teams are adopting different tactical approaches. The finalists in Sao Paulo offered contrasting gameplay on their way to the gold medal game. After splitting a 3-3 verdict in the tournament opener – no overtime or shootouts in the group stage under this format – both Argentina and Puerto Rico were undefeated against Colombian or Brazilian opposition.
However, while Argentina’s free-scoring offence overpowered the opposition – culminating in a 10-2 semi-final win over Brazil – Puerto Rico relied on the tournament’s most miserly defence. Goaltender Liv Bernard was in eye-catching form throughout and starred in a 4-1 success against Colombia in the semis.
Earlier, Argentina topped a five-team group on goal differential after tying Puerto Rico with nine points.
Colombia came third in the group thanks to wins over the two Brazilian teams (6-1 and 10-2). The host could not get a win against any other nation, but Brazil I advanced thanks to a 7-2 victory over Brazil II. Although the home team found it tough at times, in a country with a greater tradition of inline hockey this tournament was a valuable opportunity to face stronger opposition and improve the Brazilian game by learning from teams at the next level.
And Szentagotai was pleased with the host nation’s progress.
“We always had a plan for these developing countries to host events,” she said. “We’re so happy to be here because they’ve done a tremendous job of staging the tournament, and I think it also gives them the possibility to develop even further and strengthen their program.
“I think it’s an absolute win-win for everyone.”
Results
Gold medal game: Argentina 7-3 Puerto Rico
Bronze medal game: Colombia 6-1 Brazil I
Semi-finals:
Argentina 10-2 Brazil I
Puerto Rica 4-1 Colombia
Group stage
Gameday one:
Argentina 3-3 Puerto Rico
Colombia 6-1 Brazil I
Puerto Rico 13-1 Brazil II
Gameday two:
Puerto Rico 5-3 Colombia
Argentina 6-3 Brazil I
Brazil II 2-10 Colombia
Brazil I 1-3 Puerto Rico
Gameday three:
Argentina 18-2 Brazil II
Brazil I 7-2 Brazil II
Colombia 3-8 Argentina
Group Standings:
- Argentina, 7 pts; 2. Puerto Rico, 7; 3. Colombia, 4; Brazil I, 2; 5. Brazil II, 0.